BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma Health and Social Care

Unit 39 Infection Prevention andControl

P1 explain how infections are caused by different pathogens

P2 explain how pathogenic micro-organisms grow and spread

Three scenarios are presented here.

For P1: answer the questions on each scenario.

For P2: complete a chain of infection for each scenario.

Scenario 1

Mrs Audrey Taylor has been admitted to the ward where you work with MRSA infection in a leg ulcer. She is being treated with strong antibiotics and regular wound dressings. She is being barrier-nursed in a side room.

P1

Is Audrey’s infection systemic or localised? Explain your answer.

Describe how the wound was colonised – describe 3 possible ways that MRSA might have entered the wound.

Why is an ulcer a good environment for bacterial growth? Explain your answer.

What is the reservoir of infection? Explain your answer.

Has the infection been caused by normal or transient flora? Explain your answer.

P2

Draw the chain of infection for Audrey

Scenario 2

Indarjit Singh is 6 and has been admitted to the children’s ward with measles. His mother decided not to give him the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccination as she had concerns about a linkbetween the vaccination and autism. He is quite miserable as he is being looked after in a room by himself.

P1

Is Indarjit’s infection systemic or localised? Explain your answer.

Describe how the measles virus entered his body.

Why was Indarjit susceptible to the infection? Explain your answer.

What is the reservoir of infection? Explain your answer.

Has the infection been caused by normal or transient flora? Explain your answer.

P2

Draw the chain of infection for IndarjitPTO

Scenario 3

Miss AlessandraLópez has visited her GP complaining of itching and discomfort around her genital area. She has also noticed a whitish-grey discharge.

P1

Is Alessandra’s infection systemic or localised? Explain your answer.

Describe how the fungus may have colonised – describe 3 possible ways that thrush may have developed.

Why is the genital area a good environment for fungal growth? Explain your answer.

What is the reservoir of infection? Explain your answer.

Has the infection been caused by normal or transient flora? Explain your answer.

P2

Draw the chain of infection for Alessandra

Submission deadline: 3rd October 2012

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